Landlords Information

Letting and leasing advice

Our representative will meet you at your property and advise you, without obligation, on all aspects of letting. It does not constitute a survey or report of any nature on the condition of your property.

Rental Valuation

An assessment on rental value, according to the Agreement/Lease, will be made during our representative’s visit, although it is your responsibility to check whether it will cover all outgoings on the property.

Marketing

Particulars will be prepared for advertising and circulation to companies, where necessary. Any Advertising will be at our discretion. Any specialist advertising, required by the Landlord, will be at the Landlords expense.

Mortgages

You must check with your Building Society or mortgagor to ensure that they will grant consent to let your property. Most Building Societies will agree to let temporarily but you must consult with them. We would suggest, for your own benefit, that such consent is obtained in writing prior to any letting. If you live in a block of flats, you may be subject to restrictions in your lease and we must be informed of these. Ideally you should supply us with a copy of the lease.

Viewings

After completing an application form and following a satisfactory interview we will arrange for prospective tenants to view your property.

References

We reference check on all prospective tenants. Tenants will only be accepted with satisfactory references.

Tenancy Agreement

We normally sign Tenancy Agreements on your behalf, which aim to ensure your rights are protected with regard to possession. All agreements are drawn up under the provisions of the Housing Act 1988, and any further amendment Acts. If you wish us to incorporate any additional clauses to the Tenancy Agreement, then please inform us in writing.

On no account let the tenant take possession of your home before an agreement has been signed and the first months rent and deposit have been received.

Inventory

Where appropriate, we will prepare an inventory of furnishings and effects, which will be attached to the Tenancy Agreement. Tenants are obliged to agree to the inventory when entering into an Agreement. This will be checked on their departure. Inventories are prepared for identification purposes only. This will incur a cost calculated according to size of the property.

Deposits

The Tenant shall pay us a deposit equivalent to one month’s rent. The deposit will be protected by The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS) in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of The DPS. The Terms and Conditions and ADR Rules governing the protection of the deposit including the repayment process can be found at www.depositprotection.com. The deposit is held throughout the tenancy, as security against non-payment of rent, dilapidations etc.

Tenancy Control

We will carry out an inspection at the end of the tenancy to ensure that the Tenant has observed the conditions as set out in the Agreement

Maintenance

We will instruct reliable contractors to carry out minor repairs to the property, without prior consent from yourselves. If the estimated cost is more than £200, plus VAT, then we shall seek the consent of the Landlord before the work commences except in the case of an emergency. It is the Landlords responsibility to maintain the property in good order throughout the letting term.

We recommend that a service contract is taken out to cover the central heating and that details of such contract are supplied to us.

A note should be left in the property to indicate the location of the mains water stop tap.

Payments to owners

Payments are made to owners on a monthly basis, and 10 days should be allowed, after the receipt of the rent, to allow for cheque clearance etc., before the payment reaches your account. Statements are prepared quarterly, i.e. 31st March, 30th June, 30th Sept and 31st Dec. All rents are held in a non interest bearing account.

Electrical Reports

Since July 2020 it is a legal requirement that all domestic rental properties must have electrical inspection report every 5 years under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. If you do not have an EIR we can source one for you in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Energy Performance Certificates

Since October 2008, it is a legal requirement that almost all buildings that are available to let or for sale have a current Energy Performance Certificate ( EPC ). If you do not have an EPC we can source one for you in a timely and cost-effective manner.

General

We advise Landlords to notify their insurers of any proposed letting and seek confirmation that cover is extended, where necessary. We recommend that the Landlord seeks advice from the insurers regarding adequate cover when let or vacant.

Would you please arrange for the premium for building and contents insurance to be paid by direct debit as we can not be held responsible for non payment of premiums.

It is advisable to arrange with the Post Office to have your mail redirected, before you vacate.

If you are particularly proud of your garden, please arrange for a gardener to attend during your absence, as we can not be responsible for tenants neglect.

Please note that it is not part of our duties to be responsible for, or to supervise the property, whilst vacant, and we are not responsible in any way for any loss or damage which may be suffered during such a period.

The Landlord should make arrangements for the payment of bills in the event of the property remaining vacant.

You will observe that a deposit is made to cover breakages, losses, damage and non-payment of rent to the premises. Fair wear and tear is accepted. This means that often redecoration is necessary following occupation of a family. I t is normal to find that tenants do not take the same care and attention, and it is rare to find the property in the same condition of decoration at the end of the tenancy, as you yourself would leave it. In addition, your furnishings are likely to suffer some damage and also the gardens may be neglected. It is difficult to prove a claim for dilapidation’s in the courts, as ‘fair wear and tear’ can have a wide meaning. Our policy, therefore, is to retain a deposit to cover the initial cost. The deposit held will be used to cover any damage etc., but should the cost of rectifying the loss or damage exceed the deposit, we as agents can not be held responsible for any additional expense.

Once the property has been let, the tenant has the right to quiet enjoyment and we have no rights to enter the property without due notice under the terms of the Tenancy Agreement.